Illinois at Penn State, Saturday, September 28th, 6:30pm CT, NBC

#80      
EyeoftheIllini
illiram said:
18 point underdog? I love the disrespect. This will motivate our boys to in there and give them hell. Absolutely cannot wait. Already planning the list of unhealthy snacks and drinks.
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Whenever I see sentiments like this expressed, my first thought is always if a team needs a big point spread to motivate it for a road game against a perennial BIG power (especially when it is 4-0 and ranked itself). then we’re probably in trouble. So if the point spread was 4.5 would a team not be as motivated to go “in there and give them hell”?

I’m sure a big point spread might be thrown around some during the week (though likely more so by press and fans), but really doubt it is much of a motivating factor. If you need that to be motivated for this game, then probably lack the heart and grit needed to win the game. And I don’t think this team is lacking in either of those departments.
 
#81      
spotter
I think 18 points is the worst it can get (Illinois shows up flat, turns the ball over, etc). The is a veteran team that knows how to play in front of hostile crowds (and now win).

It will be a good game, closer than the pundits think.

Head:
PSU 27
ILL 20

Heart:
ILL 21
PSU 20
 
#83      
TheGMan
EyeoftheIllini said:
Whenever I see sentiments like this expressed, my first thought is always if a team needs a big point spread to motivate it for a road game against a perennial BIG power (especially when it is 4-0 and ranked itself). then we’re probably in trouble. So if the point spread was 4.5 would a team not be as motivated to go “in there and give them hell”?

I’m sure a big point spread might be thrown around some during the week (though likely more so by press and fans), but really doubt it is much of a motivating factor. If you need that to be motivated for this game, then probably lack the heart and grit needed to win the game. And I don’t think this team is lacking in either of those departments.
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I don't think OP meant that the only reason they would be motivated is because of the point spread, but it can't hurt to add some additional motivation on top of everything else.
 
#84      
kyillinifan
Beat PSU. We faced our first hostile crowd and came out victorious. We have to get our run game going. That run that Feagin had in OT was fantastic. We have had two dog fights this season PSU hasn’t. Go Illini. Going to be a long day on Saturday. Victory will put us in the top 15. One game at a time.
 
#85      
IllGuardU
pruman91 said:
not football , but I remember a basketball game where the Illini wore orange jersey's and wisky wore red jersey's......it was a color confusion and hard to watch.........it really really was....................
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It was fugly for sure
 
#87      
Krombopulos_Michael
EyeoftheIllini said:
Whenever I see sentiments like this expressed, my first thought is always if a team needs a big point spread to motivate it for a road game against a perennial BIG power (especially when it is 4-0 and ranked itself). then we’re probably in trouble. So if the point spread was 4.5 would a team not be as motivated to go “in there and give them hell”?

I’m sure a big point spread might be thrown around some during the week (though likely more so by press and fans), but really doubt it is much of a motivating factor. If you need that to be motivated for this game, then probably lack the heart and grit needed to win the game. And I don’t think this team is lacking in either of those departments.
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Wholeheartedly agree a team shouldn’t need any outside chatter to influence their effort and intensity BUT there’s a reason the classic idea of bulletin board material exists. Different people have different methods of getting them motivated and ticked off.
 
#88      
RoundBalcs
altgeld88 said:
I've said it before but it bears repeating: props on your avatar. An Illini moment that still sends chills up my spine when I recall watching it in real time, and one I'll remember as long as my synapses are firing.

BTW... it seems that many on our team possess this sort of sprit, tenacity and cussedness. Bodes well.

View attachment 36430
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Thank you! I’ve never created an official list of favorite Illini memories, but this is would be very very near the top!

Here’s the link in case anyone needs some hyping up this Monday AM.

 
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#89      
Chukwuwumba
1970 John said:
Penn State hasn’t played anyone yet. There’s no measure how good they actually are. Our guys are battle tested and battle hardened.

Beaver Stadium won’t throw anything at Illinois that Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium didn’t. Our guys weren’t rattled Friday night and they won’t be in Saturday.

Everything the experts said about Kansas, everything about Nebraska, they’ll say about Penn State. Our guys proved them wrong about those two teams. Why not Penn State?

The last time our guys were in Beaver Stadium, they came home victors. Why not again? Why not indeed?

herb GIF
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Agreed. Also, Illini saw the OC last year at Kansas. Offense might be similar, and Illini defense appears much different. Their OC is really good, but something of interest .
 
#90      
robertgoulet
For everyone talking about "disrespect" - keep winning until they have to respect UI. Right now there's still mitigating factors (Illinois is Illinois, Kansas doesn't appear to be what people thought, Nebraska maybe a little overrated?) and the right to be respected hasn't been earned....yet.
 
#92      
Genesis
One thing the ratings services cannot take into account is the poise and confidence this team is playing with. There's something different this year. I think it's a combination of the character of the coaching staff that Bret has crafted, and the effects of their "life coach" Jason Epperson - as well as the character of the players we've recruited. That's what I'm reading. The way they approach the game this year is different and Vegas can't account for that.
 
#93      
AZILL
Genesis said:
One thing the ratings services cannot take into account is the poise and confidence this team is playing with. There's something different this year. I think it's a combination of the character of the coaching staff that Bret has crafted, and the effects of their "life coach" Jason Epperson - as well as the character of the players we've recruited. That's what I'm reading. The way they approach the game this year is different and Vegas can't account for that.
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I'm going to point out what I see as the maturing quiet leadership of Altmyer. I've lived long enough to learn that 'quiet' leaders sometimes take a bit of time to convert those around you whereas the 'cheerleader' type can have a more immediate impact.
 
#96      
altgeld88
RoundBalcs said:
Thank you! I’ve never created an official list of favorite Illini memories, but this is would be very very near the top!

Here’s the link in case anyone needs some hyping up this Monday AM.

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Thanks, Not to take this off-topic but Thomas Rooks' 20 yard ramble into the end zone v. OSU in 1983 is #1 for me. Listened to it on the radio. That 80-yard drive in the final couple minutes, down 13-10, was electrifying. First time we'd beat those guys in 16 years during which they and Michigan dominated the BT. Along with Hayden Fry's ascent at Iowa during that period, this game signaled a new era for football in the BT.

Hoping that this weekend the boys make another one of these all-time memories at PSU.
 
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